EYES ON ELLIS COUNTY (August 7, 2025)

ALMA

Follow the City of Alma on Facecbook at www.facebook.com/cityof.almatx.

BARDWELL

Bardwell’s City Council meeting was held Tuesday with agenda items as diverse as discussing the city’s progress with a public management grant to a vote to increase of property taxes. Stay informed.

ENNIS

Look for Ennis’ new Pre-Development meeting schedule to “better serve our community and streamline department resources.” The meetings will be held on set dates each month the 1st and 3rd Thursday at the Development & Inspections Department - 108 W. Knox St. The meeting will last one hour. Contact the city to schedule: estubbs@ennistx.gov; jbarake@ennistx.gov; or tforeman@ennistx.gov for more information.

FERRIS

The city will hold a public hearing on Aug. 20 regarding the 2025-2026 proposed budget.

GARRETT

The Garrett city hall is located at 208 N Ferris Street, (972) 875-5893.

GLENN HEIGHTS

Reminder: Glenn Heights will be hosting their back to school bash Friday, August 9 from 8 a.m. to noon.

GRAND PRAIRIE

The Grand Prairie Police Department is investigating a fatal collision that occurred late last week on IH-30 westbound at MacArthur Blvd. The accident left one person dead in a disabled vehicle that was hit from behind by a Ford 150. The driver continued of the truck kept driving until the truck became disabled, at which point the driver fled on foot. He was eventually arrested and charged with a Collision Involving Death and Intoxication Manslaughter.

ITALY

ITXN, Italy’s watchdog website, recently reported at https://itxn.net the city had rejected legal concerns about misleading council chamber signage.

Mansfield

A high-impact public-private partnership (PPP) with Dallas-based developer House of Tangram and the City of Mansfield was recently secured on approximately 30 acres inside Mansfield’s 100-acre, $2.5 billion Staybolt Street District. This area is being described as a “bold new hub where sports, tech and hospitality converge – along Toll Road 360.”

MAYPEARL

Bowers Street road repairs will reportedly be complete by August 8. The roadway has had a contractor stabilizing and repaving the street.

MIDLOTHIAN

Remember Midlothian’s annual water conservation requirements are in effect until September 30. The exception is for hand watering or the use of drip/subsurface irrigation or properly working soaker hoses, Midlothian residents and businesses are required to refrain from irrigating their lawns and landscaping with hose-end sprinklers and/or automatic spray systems between the hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

MILFORD

This week Milford ISD had its Meet the Teacher on Monday in advance of the first day of school Wednesday and Midnight Madness/Meet the Bulldogs at 10:45 p.m. Friday night.

OAK LEAF

Oak Leaf’s next City Council meeting is Aug. 12 at City Hall, 301 Locust Drive at 6:30 p.m.

OVILLA

The City of Ovilla has launched over $770,000 in road repairs as part of this year’s budget, targeting key streets like Johnson Lane, Westmoreland, Hosford, Georgetown, and Buckboard. Backed by a voter-approved sales tax increase for street maintenance, the city is also developing a long-term Capital Improvement Plan to guide future infrastructure projects.

PALMER

Palmer is asking residents to take a community survey at https://ci.palmer.tx.us/palmer-community-survey.

PECAN HILL

The City of Pecan Hill reports is has the lowest tax rate in Ellis County even though there is no commercial activity permitted in the City limits as all the zoning is residential and there are no multi-family properties permitted within the city limits.

RED OAK

CWD is donating $10 to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country for every ton recycled through Red Oak’s curbside program this month. These funds go directly toward helping those impacted by the Kerr County floods.

VENUS

Venus’ Police Department takes part in the Guardian Program. The program is a free, voluntary database ran by the Venus Police Department to help certain at-risk individuals in case they go missing or in case of an emergency. The application for participation can be found at this link: www.cityofvenus.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif6401/f/uploads/guardian_program_application.pdf.

WAXAHACHIE

The City of Waxahachie’s 175th Birthday Bash will be held on Friday, August 22, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. in the heart of Waxahachie at Railyard Park.

If you have news briefs for any of these cities/towns (resident, business or city), please send to rcook13@earthlink.net so we can share the news.